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Fascinating True Stories From the Flip Side of History

On the Web Since 1994

Podcasting Since January 2008

1949 – Don’t Come Back-He Didn’t! (Footnote)

Published on January 24, 2023

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Footnotes to History, Schools & Education

His teacher told him not to come back to school without his book, so he did exactly what he was told and ran away from home.

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1964 – Unable to Find Affordable Housing, Student Sleeps in Air Vent

Published on August 19, 2022

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Schools & Education, Tidbits

Allan Kornfeld was unable to afford student housing at Yale. So, he decided to move into a ventilation shaft.

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1952: Einstein Offers Student Incorrect Math Advice

Published on December 10, 2021

Posted in: Schools & Education, Tidbits

15-year-old Johanna Mankiewicz wrote to Albert Einstein seeking help with a tough math problem. His answer had an error in it.

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Runaway Boy Couldn’t Learn Latin

Published on August 20, 2021

Posted in: Schools & Education, Tidbits

In 1916, 15-year-old Rolla Bostwick ran away from home because he was unable to master Latin.

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Two Worlds Collide – Podcast #153

Published on July 29, 2021

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Hoaxes, Love & Marriage, Podcast, Schools & Education

In 1932, the office of Redondo Beach school superintendent Elliott B. Thomas was destroyed and he had mysteriously disappeared. Was he dead or alive? Or was something else going on?

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Married Teacher Forced to Resign

Published on May 6, 2021

Posted in: Love & Marriage, Schools & Education, Tidbits

In 1906, Miss Mana E. Hall was forced to resign from her teaching position after it was discovered that she was married.

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Salem Trade School Interview

Published on February 25, 2019

Posted in: Forgotten History, Podcast, Schools & Education, Sports, Unbelievable

An interview with John Murphy - His father was a member of the Salem Trade School football team back in the 1920's.

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Tried to Hide Her Report Card

Published on September 15, 2017

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Escape and Survival, Schools & Education, Tidbits

11-year-old Nellie Stevens of Indianapolis, Indiana was missing for six days because she was too afraid to show her report card to her foster parents.

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Teacher Punishes Students with an Electric Chair

Published on September 8, 2017

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Schools & Education, Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

Barnesville, Minnesota science teacher H.T. Upsahl was arrested on October 21, 1924, for using an electric chair to punish his students.

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Teacher Refuses Loyalty Oath

Published on March 20, 2016

Posted in: Law & Order, Schools & Education, Tidbits

A New York City teacher was fired in 1918 for refusing to sign a loyalty oath supporting the US during World War I.

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Women with Children Banned from Teaching

Published on March 13, 2016

Posted in: Law & Order, Schools & Education, Tidbits

In 1911, the New York City Board of Education banned women with small children from teaching in the classroom.

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Too Pretty to Teach

Published on March 6, 2016

Posted in: Law & Order, Schools & Education, Tidbits

Back in 1906, Genevieve McGraw was fired from her teaching position for being too popular and pretty.

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Unfit to Teach – Podcast #91

Published on February 28, 2016

Posted in: Law & Order, Podcast, Schools & Education, Unbelievable

Rose Freistater was denied a teaching license because she was overweight. Find out what happened when she challenged the ruling.

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The Salem Trade School – Podcast #90

Published on January 27, 2016

Posted in: Fraud & Deception, Hoaxes, Podcast, Schools & Education, Sports

The Salem Trade School had the worst high school football team in the Boston region back in the 1920's. But they had a big secret...

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The Tieless Teacher

Published on August 20, 2014

Posted in: Law & Order, Schools & Education, Tidbits

East Hartford, Connecticut English teacher Richard P. Brimley fought for years with his school district because he refused to wear a tie.

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